Camping And Portable Showers: Here’s The Deal

Camping can be clean, but you don’t always have the shower part figured out. We did the research and found the best portable camping showers available today, here is our guide.

Personal Hygiene and Camping

The worst part of camping is not being able to shower after a long day of running around in the muddy outdoors. You could do a baby-wipe rubdown, but that won’t work for your whole body, and it’ll just spread the dirt around. We’re no longer limited to a water source or even a power source for that matter, now we can bring life’s luxuries along wherever the trail leads us with a portable camping shower. 

Depending on your budget and the model you go with, the water pressure, features, and durability of these camping showers may surprise you. Portability is more important to backpackers than it is to van campers, and when space is tight, you don’t want to be lugging around a giant tank. As for ease of use, if you’re a no-nonsense kind of camper, you don’t want to be fumbling with tricky gaskets or levers to get in a good shower.

Last but not least, value; if you’re looking to buy a portable camping shower to last you years of consistent use, you may not want to opt for the cheapest price tag. These are all important factors when considering which portable camping shower to add to your campsite. Below are the pros, cons, and specs of the best portable camping showers on the market today.

Best Portable Camping Showers

Nemo Helio LX Camp Shower

Best Portable Shower Overall

The Nemo Helio LX offers tons of functionality at a great, competitive price. Since it’s made by Nemo, you can count on durable, dependable materials with a simple design. This makes for a long-lasting camping shower.

You may be wondering what the difference is between the Nemo Helio LX and the original Helio, and what warrants its higher price tag. The Helio LX has an extra 3 gallons capacity than the Helio Pressure Shower, and a 20% increase in water pressure. It comes ready to use out of the carrying pouch, and they replaced the awkwardly small refill spout with a large opening that makes it easier to fill, empty, and clean.

With its greater capacity and sturdy foot pump, you can enjoy a 7-10 minutes of continuous, high pressurized use. They’ve also added a sprayer trigger for a continuous, hands-free shower. Muddy camping trips and sticky days at the beach are a thing of the past with the Nemo Helio LX.

NEMO Helio XL Pressured Shower

As an award-winning pressure shower, it’s no wonder it’s on our list for the best portable camping showers. Rather than having to hang a gravity-fed shower to muster up some pressure, Helio stays on the ground with a foot pump that cranks out 5-7 minutes of steady water pressure. Filling the tank can be sort of tricky, but can be done without a hose, and be sure to keep it in the sun for a nice warm shower.

With a 7 ft hose, it can be used for everything from showers, cleaning camping gear, washing off the dogs, or even doing the dishes. This lightweight, portable shower is best for camping and beach trips.

Ivation Portable Outdoor Shower

This portable, handheld device is a camping shower best-seller on Amazon. It’s perfect for all occasions like camping, hiking, washing dirty paws, or a day at the beach. It draws water from a separate bucket or tub and delivers it through a handheld 6.5 ft hose.

This flexible hose can also be attached to a wall with a suction cup and S-shaped hook for hands-free showering. The battery is lightweight and delivers 60 minutes of use on a single charge. With a 5-gallon bucket, you can get up to 10 minutes of continuous, low-pressurized use. It’s extremely lightweight, portable, and a great addition to your camping gear.

Pros:  Price, steady stream, charge lasts long, thick durable hose.

Cons: Hose is too short to hang for most adults, battery heats up while charging, awkward on/off switch. 

Geyser Systems Portable Shower

This portable shower system has the ability to heat up water for an enjoyable, warm shower. It has LED indicators for the temperature of the water and has an added safety feature that prevents water from being dispensed when it is too hot. This shower is unique because of the sponge attachment at the end of the hose.

It’s specifically designed to dispense water where you need it, whether that’s on your body or the dishes. One side of the sponge is rough for scrubbing, the other is soft for the skin, and is easily replaceable. The system delivers a consistent pressure from start to finish for up to 15 minutes, without the need for pressurization.

Additionally, the control valve allows you to pick the flow rate. The power cable is 16 ft long, so you can shower a good distance away from the power source. Shop here.

Pros: Unique sponge attachment, heated water with safety features, long power cord and hose

Cons: Requires power source, price, no shower head

• Water Capacity: 0.8-gallons (3 liters)
• Delivery Method: Power Cord
• Packed Size: 16” x 9” x 6”
• Dry Weight: 7 lbs 12.8 oz
• Length of Hose: 6 ft
• Shop Here

Geyser Systems Heated Portable Shower

The best part about this portable shower is that it has a built-in heating system. For $80 more than Geyser’s other model, In as little as 15 minutes you’ll have warm water, no higher than 95 degrees, ready at your disposal. Like the Geyser Systems Portable Shower, it also has a useful sponge attachment that allows for easy showering and dish washing.

There’s an LED indicator for temperature as well as the water level so you know when it’s about to run out. It’s powered by a 16 ft long cable that lets you move far away from the power source for privacy. The heated water feature makes it easier for campers to enjoy a warm shower without having to boil water separately.

Pros: Heats water with safety features, unique sponge attachment, long power cord and hose
Cons: Price, no shower head, requires power source

• Water Capacity: 0.8-gallons (3 liters)
• Delivery Method: Power Cord
• Packed Size: 16” x 9” x 6”
• Dry Weight: 8 lbs
• Length of Hose: 6 ft
• Shop Here

Dr. Prepare Camping Shower

This camping shower is an affordable alternative to the Helio Pressure Shower. It holds a whopping 4 gallons of water and includes a foot pump for pressurization. The squeeze nozzle is designed to control water flow, and a large inlet allows for easy filling. The entire unit folds up neatly into a small carrying pouch for easy, on-the-go travel.

If you’re looking for decent water pressure and an easy-to-use portable tank, the price makes this camping shower worth it as an alternative to other high-end camping showers.

Pros: Decent pressure, large water capacity, easy-to-use, portable

Cons: Pressure doesn’t last long, hose and nozzle are reported to be cheap

RisePro Solar Shower Bag

The RisePro has an astounding 10-gallon volume, which is great when you have multiple people who need to rinse off. The large water capacity, however, makes it extremely difficult to hang it up high after filling it. The straps to hang the bag by aren’t very thick and can cause tears in the thin material.

The bag is black and captures solar energy to warm up water for showers, and has a temperature indicator as well. The small shower head twists to control water flow. For only $24, the RisePro Solar Shower Bag is worth trying for your next camping or hiking trip.

Pros: Price, heats water well, temperature indicator, water flow nozzle control

Cons: Cheaply made, tears easily, low pressure

Final Thoughts on Portable Camping Showers

These 10 camping showers are some of the best-valued camping shower options on the market. Our top pick, Nemo Helio LX Camp Shower, is a decent price for guaranteed amazing water pressure. Its compact size boasts a surprising water capacity that stays put on the ground and is easy to pack up.

From gravity-fed systems, which rely on gravity to keep the water flowing, to pressurized, which requires you to pump air pressure into the tank, you’re guaranteed to find the model that suits your needs. Most of our featured showers can be heated with solar energy, and others require pre-heated water. The versatility of these camp showers does not end with body showering, they can be used to wash dishes, clean hiking gear, wash off the dogs, and much more.

Many of our featured camping showers have unique accessories, like the Geyser Systems Portable Shower that has an attachable sponge that makes bathing and washing dishes effortless. You shouldn’t have to sacrifice an enjoyable shower when you go camping, hiking, or backpacking. These convenient camp showers ensure you won’t have to.

So, you are clean now! Its time to talk about your camp lighting, camping lanterns have definitely leveled up since the last time you looked. Don’t believe me? Check out what we found here.